Common Calculation Method: Solar Collector Energy Output

Common Calculation Method

Press release

Webinar: March 31, 2011

The renewable heating and cooling (RHC) sector offers a huge potential that has been underestimated and even neglected, in part due to the lack of generally accepted methods for calculating and monitoring the decentralized production of renewable heat.

In the past, by developing a consensual conversion factor of 0,7kWth/m²., the solar thermal sector has contributed to facilitating the calculation of the installed solar thermal capacity in operation in terms of kWth..However, a new method was needed that would be reliable and simple to estimate the impressive amount of energy produced by solar thermal systems worldwide and compare it with other (renewable) energy sources.

Such a method has now been developed and agreed by the IEA-SHC and major solar trade associations.